Harton Down Hill
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ389655 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 1.03 | 2024-09-10 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 1.08 hectares 2.67 ac Description Harton Down Hill is of importance for the Magnesian Limestone Grassland communities which are associated with the shallow soils and rock outcrops of this small but prominent hill near South Shields. The grassland supports a community dominated by meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha and red fescue Festuca rubra, in which blue moor grass Sesleria caeruleae, quaking grass Briza media and upright brome Bromus erectus also occur. The community is herb rich and includes glaucous sedge Carex flacca, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, yarrow Achillea millefolium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa, hoary plantain Plantago media and sea plantain Pinus pinaster, as well as large patches of salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and the occasional patches of cowslip Primula veris, wild thyme Thymus praecox and devil’s bits cabious Succisa pratensis. Of particular note is the large population of perennial flax Linum perenne, found on the hill top, its southern and western slopes, this being its northernmost locality in Britain.
Species mentioned
Show the 19 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| meadow oat grass | Avenula pratensis | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| upright brome | Bromus erectus | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| red fescue | Festuca rubra | LC | grass | poaceae |
| crested hair-grass | Koeleria macrantha | NT | grass | poaceae |
| yarrow | Achillea millefolium | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
| greater knapweed | Centaurea scabiosa | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| lady's bedstraw | Galium verum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| perennial flax | Linum perenne | VU | herb | linaceae |
| birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| spiny rest-harrow | Ononis spinosa | Not listed in GB list | herb | fabaceae |
| hoary plantain | Plantago media | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| salad burnet | Poterium sanguisorba | VU | herb | rosaceae |
| cowslip | Primula veris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| devils-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | VU | herb | caprifoliaceae |
| creeping thyme | Thymus praecox | Not listed in GB list | herb | lamiaceae |
| glaucus sedge | Carex flacca | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| maritime pine | Pinus pinaster | Not listed in GB list | tree | pinaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Achillea millefolium, Lotus corniculatus |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula veris |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Achillea millefolium |
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus, Poterium sanguisorba |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Pinus spp. |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Centaurea scabiosa, Plantago spp., Succisa pratensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp., Galium spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| White-line dart Euxoa tritici |
Vulnerable | Galium verum |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca rubra |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus, Ononis spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp. |
| No common name Chrysolina marginata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Festuca spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp., Plantago spp. |
| Tawny speckled Eupithecia icterata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium, Centaurea spp. |
| Bordered pug Eupithecia succenturiata |
Near Threatened | Achillea millefolium |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea scabiosa |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.